Local schools struggle to find bus drivers

Connie White of Gray practices parallel parking a school bus last week during a training course at the Terrebonne Vo-Tech High School in Houma. White is nearing the end of the public-school driver-training course, one of the many steps required to become a bus driver for the school system.

EMILY SCHWARZE/STAFF

MATTHEW PLEASANTStaff Writer

Published: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 at 1:07 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 at 1:07 p.m.

HOUMA – The sign outside the Terrebonne Parish School Board garage on Tunnel Boulevard calls out to anyone who thinks they have what it takes to drive a school bus.

Meant to spur interest in a bus-driver-training program, school officials say it’s one of the ways they’re dealing with a shortage affecting parishes throughout the state.

Terrebonne terms its current lack of drivers as a “severe” situation, a term that many public-school districts across the state also used to define their current staffing levels. That’s according to a survey taken last year by the state education department.

Lafourche Parish also lists its shortage as severe. Floyd Benoit, a spokesman for the school district, said the dwindling number of bus drivers is apparent.

“We have routes that don’t get run,” he said.

Lydia Alleman, Terrebonne schools’ transportation supervisor, said she needs more drivers and substitutes to fill in for full-time workers.

The school system has about 171 drivers and 25 substitutes who back them up on a daily basis. Because a number of full-time drivers are on extended leave for medical or personal reasons, she said, about 12 of those substitute drivers fill in on a regular basis.

“That leaves me with about six subs I can count on every day,” she said. “But three of them just quit in the last two weeks.”

Down to three substitutes for the entire parish, she said, full-time drivers are forced to make more than their usual number of runs.

“It’s a little more stressful because when you get to a school, you have another group waiting for you,” Alleman said. “The only solution is to get more drivers.”

HARDER THAN IT LOOKS

To keep a steady flow of drivers available, both school systems provide applicants with free training. In Terrebonne, the classes are held at the Vo-Tech High School.

The sign advertising the course went on display next to Tunnel Boulevard last month. Since then, Alleman said, the number of applicants has increased.

“We’ve had more interest since we’ve put a sign up than we have had in a year and a half,” she said.

Since the start of the school year, the system has processed about 30 employment applications, she said, but the increased interest hasn’t solved the driver-shortage problem. Not all of those applicants successfully complete the program, and some of those who do quickly move on to take higher-paying jobselsewhere.

Applicants who drop out either lose interest or fail to follow through with the hours of training required to become get a commercial driver’s license. Of the 30 who applied this year, about 12 became certified, Alleman said. Five other applicants completed the program but left to take other driving jobs.

Before a driver can begin the free training, he must earn a commercial driver’s license. Once that’s accomplished, he must complete a 30-hour defensive-driving program and pass a test administered by a third-party company certified by the state.

Once he completes the training, he must spend 10 hours riding with a veteran bus driver before being securing a route of his own.

EXTRA LOADS

Once applicants do land the job, some move on to take higher-paying jobs that offer more hours, school officials said.

“They get that idea after they’ve been driving for a while,” said Cynthia LeBlanc, who has been driving school buses for more than a decade and teaches a training course for the district.

School officials say they are aware of the competition the district faces when trying to recruit drivers.

“Everyone is looking for CDL drivers,” Alleman said. “We’re training them for free. We go through the whole process, and they can walk away” to take a 40-hour-a-week job.

Full-time school-bus drivers make about $16.50 an hour, Alleman said, and work an average of 25 hours a week. Substitutes make about $15 an hour.

School officials say they’ve considered contracting bus drivers from educational companies or increasing wages to attract employees and keep them longer.

“If we paid more money, we would probably not have as hard a problem getting drivers,” said Roger DeHart, a Terrebonne School Board member. “(But) we’ve got to weigh a bunch of options. Our bus drivers just got a raise, but it’s not on a level to attract new drivers.”

LeBlanc says being a bus driver takes more than a need for money. Otherwise the frustrations, such as hot weather and disruptive students, can get to you after a while.

There are, however, perks. Drivers work an average of five hours a day for 180 days a year. LeBlanc said that schedule works for her because she has school-age children.

“If you want to make money, the work is there,” LeBlanc said. “It’s not hard work, (but) it’s a lot of responsibilities you have. And the main one is the safety of kids. You’re carrying precious cargo.”

<p>HOUMA – The sign outside the Terrebonne Parish School Board garage on Tunnel Boulevard calls out to anyone who thinks they have what it takes to drive a school bus.</p><p>Meant to spur interest in a bus-driver-training program, school officials say it’s one of the ways they’re dealing with a shortage affecting parishes throughout the state.</p><p>Terrebonne terms its current lack of drivers as a severe situation, a term that many public-school districts across the state also used to define their current staffing levels. That’s according to a survey taken last year by the state education department.</p><p>Lafourche Parish also lists its shortage as severe. Floyd Benoit, a spokesman for the school district, said the dwindling number of bus drivers is apparent.</p><p>We have routes that don’t get run, he said.</p><p>Lydia Alleman, Terrebonne schools’ transportation supervisor, said she needs more drivers and substitutes to fill in for full-time workers.</p><p>The school system has about 171 drivers and 25 substitutes who back them up on a daily basis. Because a number of full-time drivers are on extended leave for medical or personal reasons, she said, about 12 of those substitute drivers fill in on a regular basis.</p><p>That leaves me with about six subs I can count on every day, she said. But three of them just quit in the last two weeks.</p><p>Down to three substitutes for the entire parish, she said, full-time drivers are forced to make more than their usual number of runs.</p><p>It’s a little more stressful because when you get to a school, you have another group waiting for you, Alleman said. The only solution is to get more drivers.</p><h3>HARDER THAN IT LOOKS</h3>
<p>To keep a steady flow of drivers available, both school systems provide applicants with free training. In Terrebonne, the classes are held at the Vo-Tech High School.</p><p>The sign advertising the course went on display next to Tunnel Boulevard last month. Since then, Alleman said, the number of applicants has increased.</p><p>We’ve had more interest since we’ve put a sign up than we have had in a year and a half, she said.</p><p>Since the start of the school year, the system has processed about 30 employment applications, she said, but the increased interest hasn’t solved the driver-shortage problem. Not all of those applicants successfully complete the program, and some of those who do quickly move on to take higher-paying jobselsewhere.</p><p>Applicants who drop out either lose interest or fail to follow through with the hours of training required to become get a commercial driver’s license. Of the 30 who applied this year, about 12 became certified, Alleman said. Five other applicants completed the program but left to take other driving jobs.</p><p>Before a driver can begin the free training, he must earn a commercial driver’s license. Once that’s accomplished, he must complete a 30-hour defensive-driving program and pass a test administered by a third-party company certified by the state.</p><p>Once he completes the training, he must spend 10 hours riding with a veteran bus driver before being securing a route of his own.</p><h3>EXTRA LOADS</h3>
<p>Once applicants do land the job, some move on to take higher-paying jobs that offer more hours, school officials said.</p><p>They get that idea after they’ve been driving for a while, said Cynthia LeBlanc, who has been driving school buses for more than a decade and teaches a training course for the district.</p><p>School officials say they are aware of the competition the district faces when trying to recruit drivers.</p><p>Everyone is looking for CDL drivers, Alleman said. We’re training them for free. We go through the whole process, and they can walk away to take a 40-hour-a-week job.</p><p>Full-time school-bus drivers make about $16.50 an hour, Alleman said, and work an average of 25 hours a week. Substitutes make about $15 an hour.</p><p>School officials say they’ve considered contracting bus drivers from educational companies or increasing wages to attract employees and keep them longer.</p><p>If we paid more money, we would probably not have as hard a problem getting drivers, said Roger DeHart, a Terrebonne School Board member. (But) we’ve got to weigh a bunch of options. Our bus drivers just got a raise, but it’s not on a level to attract new drivers.</p><p>LeBlanc says being a bus driver takes more than a need for money. Otherwise the frustrations, such as hot weather and disruptive students, can get to you after a while.</p><p>There are, however, perks. Drivers work an average of five hours a day for 180 days a year. LeBlanc said that schedule works for her because she has school-age children.</p><p>If you want to make money, the work is there, LeBlanc said. It’s not hard work, (but) it’s a lot of responsibilities you have. And the main one is the safety of kids. You’re carrying precious cargo.</p>